How to Dress for a Black & White Photo Shoot

Today I’d like to share some tips on how to dress for a black & white photo shoot written by Thor from Thor Swift Studio.

Black and white photographs are one way to really make an emotional and classic statement with your images. However it is hard for many people to pre-visualize what a situation will look like when rendered in black and white, so here are a few easy tips to make sure you end up with the beautiful holiday photo cards you are hoping to create.

1. Color is important, but in a different way than you might think. When an image is rendered in black and white, the colors of the scene become varying shades of grey, from solid white to solid black. Blue will appear much darker grey than yellow, which will appear very light grey. It is the contrast of colors that makes a black and white photo interesting. Avoid wearing solid black or white.
2. Contrast is very important. If your background is dark, you do not want to photograph someone wearing clothing that will appear dark and have him or her blend into the background. Same concept goes for a light background and light clothing.
3. Choose clothing that lightly contrasts with the skin tone of your subject. This way they will appear as the focal point of the photograph.
4. Look for clothing that has texture, rather than patterns. A nicely textured solid looks much better than a busy pattern or print. Subtle patterns or prints are ok, but avoid designs like wide stripes, plaids or repetitive patterns.
5. For group photos everyone should not be wearing the same colors and style, but they should not conflict. Try to find complimentary styles and colors, but allow each person’s personality to be reflected in the clothing they wear.
6. Have fun, experiment with the photos. Do not just take one photo, have your subject try on a few different outfits if you have the time.

This holiday season, personalize your Christmas photoshoot so that you end up with gorgeous black and white Christmas card photos. Every detail makes a difference. Your loved ones will appreciate the vintage appeal of black and white images when you send out your photo personalized Christmas cards this year.